Lexical Definition

‎נָבָא‎ nâbâʼ (naw-baw') to prophesy ^H:V
a primitive root

prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet.

• to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)

1) to prophesy
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to prophesy
1a1a) under influence of divine spirit
1a1b) of false prophets
1b)(Hithpael)
1b1) to prophesy
1b1a) under influence of divine spirit
1b1b) of false prophets

See Greek: ἀποφθέγγομαι · λαλέω · προφητεύω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: נְבָא
[‎נָבָא‎] verb denominative prophesy (in oldest forms, of religious ecstasy with or without song and music; later, essentially religious instruction, with occasional predictions); —

Niph`al Perfect 3 masculine singular ‎נִבֵּא‎ Jer 20:1 + 7 t.; 2 masculine singular ‎נִבֵּאתָ‎ Jer 20:6 + 2 t.; ‎נִבֵּיתָ‎ Jer 26:9 1 singular ‎נִבֵּאתִי‎ Ezek 37:7 3 plural ‎נִבֵּאוּ‎ Jer 2:8 + 3 t.; ‎נִבָּ֑אוּ‎ Jer 23:21 Imperfect 3 masculine singular ‎יִנָּבֵא‎ Amos 3:8 + 9 t. Imperfect; Imperative ‎הִנָּבֵא‎ Amos 7:15 + 27 t.; Infinitive ‎הִנָּבֵא‎ Amos 7:13 suffix ‎הִנָָּֽבְאוֺ‎ Zech 13:3 ‎הִנָָּֽבְאֹתוֺ‎ Zech 13:4, + 4 t. Infinitive; Participle ‎נִבָּא‎ Jer 26:18 + 20 t. Participle; —

1. prophesy under influence of divine spirit:
a. in the ecstatic state, with song 1Sam 10:11; 1Sam 19:20 and music 1Chr 25:1; 1Chr 25:2; 1Chr 25:3.
b. the word of ‎׳‎‎י‎: absolute Amos 2:12; Amos 3:8 (emended ‎יחרד‎ We Now needless), Amos 7:12; Amos 7:13; Joel 3:1*; Jer 19:14; Jer 26:18; Jer 28:9; Jer 32:3; Ezek 11:13; Ezek 12:27; Ezek 21:19*; Ezek 37:7; Ezek 38:17 but especially in phrase ‎הִנָּבֵא וֶאַמַדְתָּ‎ Ezek 12:27; Ezek 21:14*; Ezek 21:33*; Ezek 30:2; Ezek 34:2; Ezek 36:3; Ezek 37:7; Ezek 37:12; Ezek 38:14; Ezek 38:17 with accusative Jer 20:1; Jer 25:30; Jer 28:6 followed by ‎עַל‎ against Amos 7:16; Jer 25:13; Jer 26:20; Ezek 4:7; Ezek 11:4; Ezek 13:17; Ezek 25:2; Ezek 28:21; Ezek 29:2; Ezek 34:2; Ezek 35:2; Ezek 36:6; Ezek 38:2; Ezek 39:1 unto Ezek 37:4 ‎אֶל‎ unto Amos 7:15; Jer 26:11; Jer 26:12; Jer 28:8; Ezek 36:1; Ezek 37:9 against Ezek 6:2; Ezek 13:2; Ezek 21:2*; Ezek 21:7* ‎׳‎‎בְּשֵׁם י‎ Jer 11:21; Jer 14:15; Jer 23:25; Jer 26:9.

2. of false prophets: absolute Jer 23:21; Ezek 13:2; Zech 13:3 (twice in verse); Zech 13:4 with accusative 1Kgs 22:12 = 2Chr 18:11 ‎שֶׁקֶר‎ Jer 14:14; Jer 23:25; Jer 27:10; Jer 27:14; Jer 27:16; Jer 29:21 ‎לַשָּׁ֑קֶר‎ Jer 27:15 ‎בַּשֶּׁקֶר‎ Jer 5:31; Jer 20:6; Jer 29:9 ‎׳‎‎נִבְּאֵי הַשּׁ‎ Jer 23:26 compare vJer 23:32 with ‎לֵ‎ Jer 14:16; Jer 23:16; Jer 27:15; Jer 27:16; Jer 29:31; Jer 37:19 followed by ‎אֶל‎ concerning Ezek 13:16.

3. compare heathen prophets, ‎בַּבַּעַל‎ Jer 2:8. Hithpa`el Perfect 2 masculine singular ‎הִתְנַבִּיתָ‎ 1Sam 10:16 1 singular ‎הִנַּבֵּאתִי‎ Ezek 37:10 Imperfect ‎יִתְנַבֵּא‎ 1Sam 10:10 + 7 t.; 3 masculine plural ‎יִתְנַבְּאוּ‎ Num 11:25 + 5 t.; Imperative ‎הִנַּבְּאוּ‎ Jer 23:13 Infinitive ‎הִתְנַבּוֺת‎ 1Sam 10:13 Participle ‎מִתְנַבֵּא‎ Jer 26:20 + 9 t. Participle; —

1. Prophesy under influence of divine spirit:
a. in the ecstatic state Num 11:25; Num 11:26; Num 11:27 (J), with music 1Sam 10:5; 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10; 1Sam 10:13, in frenzy 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:21 (twice in verse); 1Sam 19:23; 1Sam 19:24 excited to violence 1Sam 18:10 (= ‎מְשֻׁגָּע‎ mad 2Kgs 9:11); Jer 29:26.
b. apart from ecstatic state, absolute Ezek 37:10, with ‎לְ‎ 1Kgs 22:8; Jer 29:27 ‎על‎ 1Kgs 22:18 = 2Chr 18:17; 2Chr 18:7; 2Chr 20:37 ‎׳‎‎בְּשֵׁם י‎ Jer 26:20.

2. of heathen prophets of Baal in ecstatic state 1Kgs 18:29 ‎בַּבַּעַל‎ Jer 23:13.

3. of false prophets 1Kgs 22:10 = 2Chr 18:9; Jer 14:14; Ezek 13:17.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References